Evolution of Matera SES

Editor's note 5Aug13: Source D332-2.1

The situation of the forest sector of Matera is the result of the historical evolution of the environmental, social and economical structure in Italy, the Region and the area that starts at the end of 19th century.

During the 19th and early 20th centuries, Basilicata looses over 100,000 ha of forests through demand of land for agriculture and pasture. Within Basilicata, the land of Matera Prefecture is more susceptible to deforestation, due to its favourable geomorphology for cultivation, particularly cereal monoculture. The links between deforestation, soil erosion and land reclamation have been apparent since the mid-19th century although acting upon them has not always been possible, politically or financially. In the early 1900s, catastrophic landslides lead to growing awareness of erosion problems by politicians and economists and programs for infrastructure for land protection and consolidation of villages, interventions to recover the main waterways and reforestation programs. This effort however, is hampered by the first wave of emigration: between 1881 and 1921 the population of Basilicata decreases by 15%, also aided by the First World War.

After the end of the war, population growth continues to exert pressure on already degraded natural resources: deforestation proceeds, despite new legal hydro-geological constraints. Fascism's 'Battle of Wheat' leads to a conversion of 40,000 ha to cereal monoculture, mainly in Basilicata. The "Land Reclamation Act " (1933) tries to control soil erosion but also contributes to the gradual improvement of drainage and subsequent reclamation allowing the cultivation of fruits and vegetables in inland areas. During this period, the government also embarks on a vast reforestation program (mainly based on Mediterranean conifers) along the Ionian coastal land, with the purpose of consolidating the coastal dunes and protecting the inland crops by efficient windbreaks. In 1950 the Italian government enacts the Agrarian Reform Law, expropriating large latifundia and assigning land to the peasants. New rural settlements are built such as La Martella (near Matera), Policoro and Scanzano. Through the combination of the cultivation of uncultivated lands, land reclamation and irrigation, in a few years extraordinary progress is achieved in coastal Matera, until then characterized by an unproductive lands.

With this as the background context, and taking into account environmental, social, economic, responses, LEDD issues, and political characteristics, there follow two major states in the evolution of the Matera Prefecture SES of Matera.

Traditional forest management period (1961 to 1990)

Land abandonment as a result of emigration dominates; between the end of 1950 and 1965 more than 150,000 people emigrate from Basilicata. The construction of several dams is able to solve water supply problems, both for irrigation and drinking water. Erosion processes continue however, particularly along the shoreline, aided by extraction of alluvial materials along river beds and in some cases, intense tourism development in the coast.

After 1950, the reconstruction of hydro-geological balances and afforestation programmes restart and, until 1975, more than 40,000 ha are afforested, with the main aim of preventing landslides threatening Matera's main towns.

Nevertheless, pressure for converting land to cereal production continues, aided by mechanization and several policy instruments. From 1960 onwards, human pressures expand to include larger infrastructures (dams, roads, highways) and urban sprawl. Towns, perched on top of mountains, start to expand into surrounding slopes, exacerbating hydro-geological balance problems, water demand and waste disposal issues. Human settlements also begin to spread out into the valley, threatening the hydraulic stability of the riverbeds.

Economically and socially the region grows, and small communities overcome isolation. Natural gas and oil fields are discovered in the 1960s in the Avanfossa Bradanica basin and lead to some industrialization. In addition, in 1982 the University of Basilicata is established contributing to a renewed environmental perspective particularly with regard to forestry issues.

Constitutional and administrative changes from the 1970s lead to a complete transfer of responsibility for territorial administration from national to regional levels. This process includes forest policy and also forest ownership.

Sustainable forest management period (1990 to date)

The next phase is one of the most important periods for the forest system of the Basilicata Region and the Matera study site.

The devolution process, completed in 2001 for forestry issues, deeply affects the environmental regional system and, in particular, the forest component with the implementation of forest, nature and soil protection policies. This leads to a new vision and approach to the management of forest resources and, more generally, of environmental resources. This is institutionalized in a series of regional regulations that are enacted between 1998 and 2002 governing, amongst other things, the preparation and co-financing of forest management plans and mobilizing previously unutilized resources particularly by the municipalities. Growth of the forest sector is supported by

• CAP forestry measures (afforestation, farm diversification);
• regional forest fire prevention initiatives;
• national support for forest management plans;
• national and regional actions and measures for soil protection;
• protected area/biodiversity legislation (with the institution of the Park of Murgia Materana and the Rupestrian Churches (1990) and the Regional Park of Gallipoli-Cognato (1997)). These protected areas within the Natura 2000 network, represent about 25% of regional territory and contribute also to socio-economic development through the tourism sector especially for the Matera area.

Tourism grows significantly during the last 20 years and is now a major source of employment, contributing to the reversal of depopulation of the area. The listing the Sassi di Matera as a UNESCO World Heritage site and the creation of the Literary Parks of Isabella Morra (1993) and Carlo Levi (2001) combine environmental protection and local cultural heritage. In addition farm stays, combining traditional farm activities with tourism accommodation and services, increase considerably in the Matera study site.

Over 42% of tourism infrastructure and hotels are concentrated in the Ionian coast and Matera Prefecture is experiencing a process of rapid touristic and economic development. Between 1991 and 1998 the total accommodation increases by 37%, and more than 3,000 rooms are created in Matera Prefecture, favoured by the presence magnificent sandy beaches.

From 2000, the European Agricultural Fund is a powerful financial instrument, focusing on agricultural and rural environment development including the forest sector. EAFRD measures deeply impact the Basilicata Region and the Matera study site system in multiple sectors. For forestry and biodiversity, Forest Management Plans, the Triennial Forestry Plan, the Triennial Fire Protection Plan, implementation of Natura2000 site monitoring and management plans, the Land desertification protection programmes are all financed by the EAFRD. The EAFRD implementation contributes to the development of the economic and social system through new job opportunities in strategic sectors such as agriculture, environment, tourism and knowledge.

Traditional forest management period: 1960 to 1990
Sustainable forest management period: 1990 to date

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